Q98201: HOWTO: Change Dialog Box Background Color in MFC 2.0 or Later

Article: Q98201
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): winnt:1.0,2.0,2.1,2.2,4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbDlg kbMFC KbUIDesign kbVC100 kbVC150 kbVC200 kbVC400 kbGrpDSMFCATL
Last Modified: 07-MAY-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- The Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), used with:
   - Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, 16-bit edition, versions 1.0, 1.5, 1.51, 1.52 
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, versions 1.0, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 4.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

An application developed with the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) version 2.0
or later can change the background color of its dialog boxes by calling the
SetDialogBkColor() member function in the CWinApp class.

MORE INFORMATION
================

SetDialogBkColor() requires two COLORREF values as parameters. The first
parameter specifies the dialog box background color; the second specifies the
text color for a control in a dialog box. The application calls
SetDialogBkColor() in the InitInstance() member function of the CWinApp class.
For more information on the SetDialogBkColor() function, please refer to the
"Class Library Reference Guide, Volume 1," or to the online Help file.

The application can use the RGB macro to supply the requested colors. The
following sample code demonstrates this technique:

     BOOL CTheApp::InitInstance()
     {
        TRACE("HELLO WORLD\n");

        // Change colors to red and green.
        SetDialogBkColor(RGB(192, 0, 19), RGB(19, 192, 0));

        m_pMainWnd = new CMainWindow();
        m_pMainWnd->ShowWindow(m_nCmdShow);
        m_pMainWnd->UpdateWindow();

        return TRUE;
     }

The SetDialogBkColor() function changes the colors of all dialog boxes in an
application. If each dialog box requires a different background color, process
the WM_CTLCOLOR message and return a brush that Windows can use to paint the
dialog box background.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbDlg kbMFC KbUIDesign kbVC100 kbVC150 kbVC200 kbVC400 kbGrpDSMFCATL 
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbMFC
Version           : winnt:1.0,2.0,2.1,2.2,4.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.